# US 2019/0168091 A1 · Heating a sports device

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- Number: US 2019/0168091 A1
- Document ID: US20190168091A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/272,612
- Filed: 2019-02-11
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-02
- Inventors: Robert Marc Goldberg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168091A1

## CPC

- A63B 60/06: Handles
- A63B 2102/14: Lacrosse
- A63B 2225/64: Heated
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

A sports device configured to generate thermal energy to warm surfaces. In one implementation, the sports device embodies a lacrosse stick with a shaft and head. The shaft includes a thermal core with a phase change material that can retain and dissipate heat over an extended period of time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A handle, comprising:
an elongate shaft with a bore extending therethrough, the bore having a center axis and an inner surface;
a heat source located in the bore so that heat emanates from the center axis towards the inner surface; and
phase change material disposed inside of the bore in space between the heat source and the inner surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The handle of claim 1, further comprising:
fins disposed in the bore and that extend perpendicular to the center axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The handle of claim 1, further comprising:
fins disposed in the bore and that populate the bore axially along the center axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The handle of claim 1, further comprising:
fins disposed in the bore and that contact the phase change material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The handle of claim 1, further comprising:
fins disposed in the bore and that contact both the heat source and the phase change material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The handle of claim 1, further comprising:
fins disposed in the bore and that contact the shaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The handle of claim 1, wherein the phase change material fills space between the heat source and the inner surface of the bore.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The handle of claim 1, wherein the phase change material resides in between fins that are radially-adjacent to one another.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The handle of claim 1, wherein the phase change material surrounds the heat source.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The handle of claim 1, wherein the heat sources comprises a resistive heater that extends along at least part of the center axis of the bore.

### Claim 11

Sports equipment, comprising:
a heated handle with a location that increases and decreases in temperature, the heated handle comprising:
a hollow tube;
a heat source in the hollow tube; and
phase change material disposed at the location in space between the heat source and the hollow tube.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

Sports equipment of claim 11, further comprising:
an end effector disposed on one end of the heated handle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

Sports equipment of claim 11, further comprising:
a cap on one end of the heated handle, the cap having a receptacle to that couples electricity to the heat source.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

Sports equipment of claim 11, further comprising:
compartments in the hollow tube that hold the phase change material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

Sports equipment of claim 11, wherein the heat source comprises a resistive heater arranged in the hollow tube to generate heat that emanates from a center axis of the hollow tube towards the hollow tube.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

Sports equipment of claim 11, further comprising:
fins disposed in space between the heat source and the hollow tube, the fins in thermal contact with the phase change material.

### Claim 17

A system to heat a handle, comprising:
an elongate, hollow shaft; and
a thermal core removable from the elongate, hollow shaft, the thermal core comprising a cylinder enclosing a volume, a heat source centrally-located in the cylinder to generate heat that emanates outwardly into the volume, and a phase change material filling the volume and interposed between the heat source and the cylinder.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, further comprising:
a cap that fits onto an end of the elongate, hollow shaft, the cap comprising a receptacle that couples electricity to the heat source.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, further comprising:
an end effector attachable to an end of the elongate, hollow shaft.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the thermal core affixes at a handhold location on the elongate, hollow shaft.